Mezhyhirya President’s Residence Private Tour

5 years ago, Viktor Yanukovych, the ex-president of Ukraine fled from his grand mansion in Mezhyhirya. Now he is suspected of corruption and a number of other crimes. The Prosecutor General’s Office arrested the posh residence. It would seem paradoxical, but crowds of tourists are quietly walking in the arrested Mezhyhirya. Today the fabulous possessions of fled Yanukovych look wonderful and literally fascinate with their scenic views. The possessions of the ex-president have become a popular tourist destination. Thousands of tourists from all over the world come to see how the ex-President of Ukraine Yanukovych lived and book Mezhyhirya President’s Residence Private Tour.

The beauty of Mezhyhirya is incredible, and it should be given at least 4-5 hours. However, those who take sandwiches and a thermos with coffee are doing really right – there are quite many cozy corners in the estate where you can just sit and dream on the grass.

So, we are going to the secret residence, which has become a national park and a museum of corruption. Our Kiev Private Guides are ready to bring here groups from 1 to 50 people and conduct excursions in English, Spanish, German, and French.

Mezhyhirya is located 30 km from the city, which is 30 minutes by car/bus. Unfortunately, there is no public transport route there, so we provide a private car or bus to our guests.

Most tourists come to Mezhyhirya in the summer, especially at weekends. On Saturday, for example, on average from 2500 to 5000 people visits Mezhyhirya. The popularity of the residence of the fugitive president is really enormous.

Sights of Mezhyhirya Tour

Having passed the gate, we feel like in a fairy tale created by magicians and wizards. Mezhyhirya is not just a mansion of Yanukovych; it is 140 hectares of unbelievably great landscape park.

It is almost impossible to see all the possessions of a runaway president even in a day. Therefore, our guides will show you the best places to visit.

The beauty of the park with its neat green lawns, artificial lakes, ducks and swans makes you take as many photos as possible.

We go further, and see the famous “Honka” – Yanukovych’s club house. It is called so by the name of the Finnish company – the manufacturer of environmentally friendly wood the house is made of.

It has been established that materials worth $ 9.5 million were imported to construct the house.

Approaching to Honka, we see the imitation of the ruins of the Parthenon (a temple in Greece).

Today Mezhyhirya has become a favorite place for wedding photo shoots.

Here, everything speaks of the magnificence and supercilious manners of the former “masters of life.”

Inside the Honka House (Palace) of Yanukovych

And although the overall landscape design looks harmonious, the taste of Yanukovych is very elaborate, here you will see lamps with crowns, a party ship, and in the house there is a toilet with a marble floor.

But the nature around is pleasing to the eye: on the lake where the spa center is located, there is a gazebo and wooden walkways. It is convenient to observe ducks and fish.

Next to “Honka” there is a sports complex, where there is: a beauty salon, a boxing ring, a gym, a salt room, a tennis court, etc. The former president was not a very athletic person, so all the equipment is new.

The embankment overlooking the Kiev reservoir is simply huge!

On the one side of the embankment there are canine club and fire department. On the other there are the forest and the Galleon ship for holidays and parties. The cost of the landing stage and its royal interiors was estimated at 75 million UAH.

Who operates Mezhyhirya and what it lives for?

As you have already seen at the photo, the territory of Mezhyhirya today looks neat and surprisingly well maintained: you can never say that almost 5 years ago the former owner left it in a hurry.

The names of rare trees and shrubs are indicated on the plates, as in the arboretums.

There is also a map that we show at the beginning of the tour, so that guests understand the size of the area and the number of Mezhyhirya objects. In the summer one can rest in café – one of Yanukovych bathes was rebuilt.

Everything works as it should be in the National Park. But Mezhyhirya still has no official status, and the name at the entrance is just a sign. Tickets are actually “charitable contributions” for the maintenance of Mezhyhirya. While the investigation of a number of criminal offenses of Yanukovych and his “team” is underway, the residence property, as already mentioned, has been arrested. Now it is “material evidence.” De jure property manager is not appointed. But de facto he is – this is the “people’s commandant” Peter Oleinik. He was activist of the revolution and was one of the first to come here after the Revolution of Dignity; he established the operation of Mezhyhirya. Officially, no one gave him such authority. The commandant introduced “charitable contributions”, that is, tickets, explaining that Mezhyhirya needs to be maintained and protected from being plundered.

On the tickets it is indicated that the money collected goes to the maintenance of the territory, the salary of the service personnel, the payment of energy carriers, the support of immigrants from the ATO zone and the military. But the concept of “salary” is purely conditional. Today the people working in the mansion (security, gardeners, etc.) are not officially employed (it is easy to understand why – the residence does not have any status). That is, people receive remuneration for their work, but no official salary.

Prices for visiting Mezhyhirya

Mezhyhirya President’s Residence Private Tour includes:

Pick up from the hotel and transfer to Mezhyhirya,

Transfer back to hotel,

Entrance ticket to the territory of the park Mezhyhirya,

Tour of the park with a private English-speaking guide.

The tour does not include:

Electric car rental for a trip through the forest (120 UAH)

Entrance ticket to the museum of retro cars (50 UAH)

Entrance ticket to Honka Club House (500 UAH)

You will not regret visiting Mezhyhirya. There is something to be surprised about, namely, an elegant mansion built with stolen money. However, it has magnificent nature and in good weather it is the most beautiful park in Kiev.